Stronger together. The International Conference on the Restoration of Ukraine started in Germany

Exclusive. On Tuesday, June 11, a two-day conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine (URC-2024) started in Germany, which is being held to support the country's reconstruction after the destruction caused by Russian aggression. Germany and Ukraine jointly hold an event under the resounding slogan: "United in defense. Combined in the update. Stronger together."

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This is already the third conference on the restoration of Ukraine. The previous two were held in Great Britain and Switzerland in 2022 and 2023. In 2025, Ukraine will hold a conference together with Italy.

The key goal of URC-2024 is to consolidate sustainable international support for the recovery, restoration, reformation and modernization of Ukraine. We are talking about emergency assistance in meeting urgent needs, implementation of rapid recovery projects, creation of attractive conditions for business and private investments, active involvement of civil society in recovery processes.

The Russian occupiers have caused enormous damage to Ukraine. Entire cities and villages have been wiped off the face of the earth, critical infrastructure has been damaged, the country is the largest mined territory in the world, surpassing even Afghanistan and Syria, irreparable damage has been caused to cultural heritage and the environment. Almost a third of the country's territory (174 sq. km), which was under occupation, needs demining. This area is larger than England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined. As of May, the losses of the energy sector alone amount to $56,2 billion.

About 2 people will take part in the conference. a person from more than 60 countries who represent governments and international organizations, business and civil society, as well as municipalities and regions. In particular, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, the foreign ministers of Germany, Italy, Great Britain, France, Poland and the US special representative for the recovery of Ukraine, as well as the heads of leading international financial organizations, participate in its work.

"Together with numerous partners in politics, business, civil society and municipalities, we want to use the conference on the recovery of Ukraine to do everything possible to support Ukraine on the path of reforms and recovery. Our general message is clear: we stand firmly on the side of Ukraine and support it with all our might - as long as it needs our support," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock.

"Giving up is not an option. People want to continue living in their country, and for this they need electricity, water and a roof over their heads. The reconstruction conference in Berlin is a powerful signal of solidarity. "Partners from all over the world are joining forces to support the recovery of Ukraine," said Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Germany Svenja Schulze. According to her, this task is too big to be solved only by governments, so companies, civil society and municipalities are invited to the conference.

URC-2024 will consider issues of energy, human capital, mental health, cultural heritage, etc. A special emphasis will be placed on the involvement of civil society and the role of horizontal connections between cities, communities, and municipalities. The conference on the restoration of Ukraine provides four thematic blocks: business dimension (mobilization of the private sector for economic recovery and growth), human dimension (social restoration and human capital in the future of Ukraine), local and regional (restoration of municipalities and regions), European Union dimension (attraction EC and related reforms).

"In order to ensure Ukraine's early entry into the EU, the emphasis is also on the necessary reforms in Ukraine. In about 30 panels, the participants will consider this wide range of topics under the slogan "United in protection. Combined in the update. Stronger together," said a press release on the website of the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany.

The President of Ukraine takes part in the conference. The program of his visit includes talks with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a speech in the Bundestag, and a visit to the Ukrainian military.

"You helped, you help. I thank you, Germany," is how Volodymyr Zelensky began his speech in the Bundestag. "We will end this war, we will end it in the interests of Ukraine and in the interests of all of Europe, all of us and those who will come after us," he said. And he added that "the one who brought the war must, on the contrary, forget about peace forever, the perpetrator of the war must bear responsibility, justly answer for every night of this war", because "only with fair responsibility does the historical chance of healing from aggression grow" .

The aggressor must compensate for the damage caused to Ukraine. However, even today, our friends and partners are helping us in the restoration of the country, since it is impossible to postpone the establishment of a normal life for Ukrainians until after the war.

Vera Perovskaya